Balos by boat feels different. This private Crete sailing day puts Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa Island on your schedule, with real time in the water and a proper lunch onboard. I especially like that it’s built for a small private group and you get sailing time (not just a transport ride), plus an onboard Cretan meal with drinks.

One thing to plan around: this trip is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Key highlights worth planning for

• Private sailing (up to 10 people): skip the ferry crowd feel and enjoy the boat pace.
• Balos Lagoon time that’s actually usable: swim, snorkel, and sunbathe with about two hours at the lagoon.
• Snorkeling gear included: you don’t have to hunt for equipment last-minute.
• Gramvousa + Venetian fortress views: a short hike gets you a top-of-the-rock photo moment.
• Cretan lunch onboard with wine/beer/soft drinks: food and drinks are built into the day, not tacked on.

Why this private sailing day works better than a typical ferry trip

If you care about your time on the water, a private sail like this makes sense. You’re not lining up with everyone, not squeezing into ferry rhythm, and not spending your best hours on logistics. Instead, the boat becomes your base for the day.

The route also does a smart job of mixing two kinds of water time. You get a long, classic lagoon stop at Balos, then you switch to the rocky island vibe of Gramvousa/Imeri Gramvousa. That means you’re not repeating the same beach-and-swim scene twice.

And yes, you’re there for the views, but the better part is the flow: sail, stop, swim, eat, hike, swim again. When the day is timed well, you feel rested even though you did a lot.

Getting to Mikros Naftilos Cruises and the Izabela sailboat

Meet at Mikros Naftilos Cruises in Kissamos Port. Find the sailboats moored by the crane, and look for the boat named Izabela with the grey bimini. The meeting point is basically inside the port area, so it’s straightforward once you’re there.

A couple practical notes that matter:

• There’s no hotel pickup, so plan on getting yourself to Kissamos Port by car or regional bus.
• If you’re driving, you can find free parking, and Chania is about a 40-minute drive away.

Bring a towel. This sounds obvious, but it’s exactly the kind of thing people forget on beach days with actual swim time.

The sail from Kissamos: when to sleep, snack, and avoid seasickness

After boarding at Kissamos Port, you cruise along the coast before your Balos stop. The sailing time to Balos is about 1.5 hours. That’s long enough to settle in, not long enough to feel trapped.

The boat has a covered cabin, a covered dining area, and a bathroom with shower. Translation: you can get out of the sun when you want, cool down after swimming, and freshen up during the day.

One tip I’d take seriously: if you’re even mildly prone to motion sickness, consider taking something for the ride. One guest specifically recommended Gravol because the seas can feel a bit bumpy around parts of the route. If you’re the type who gets queasy on windy water, don’t tough it out.

Balos Lagoon: white sand, turquoise water, and time you won’t waste

Balos Lagoon is the main headline for a reason. You’ll reach it after around 1.5 hours of sailing, and then you get about two hours of free time.

During that block, you can choose your pace:

• Swim in the shallow turquoise water
• Snorkel (snorkeling gear is included)
• Sunbathe on the beach or just float and watch the light shift

Balos also has a small-world feel. One person noted that they walked a bit toward the main shore and even spotted goats. It’s not a theme park moment, so you won’t be herded around—but that kind of detail is part of why the place feels real.

The only downside to Balos is also the most obvious one: it’s a famous spot, so you’ll want to make the most of the time you have. On a private sailing day, you can spend your two hours doing what you came for—swimming and viewing—without spending extra time stuck waiting.

The onboard lunch: Cretan comfort food with wine, beer, and soft drinks

Right after your Balos swim-and-lounge time, lunch happens onboard. You’ll have about 30 minutes for the meal.

This isn’t just bread-and-snacks. The food is described as traditional Cretan fare—mousaka came up, along with dishes like baked tomatoes stuffed with aromatic rice, plus another Cretan dish that guests remembered as genuinely good. You also get wine, beer, and soft drinks, and fruit later in the afternoon.

Is 30 minutes enough? For most people, yes—because you’re not doing a sit-down restaurant experience. It’s more like: eat, refuel, then get back into the water or gear up for the next stop. If you’re the type who needs a slow, three-course meal and zero movement, you might find the timing a bit quick. But for a day on the sea, it’s a practical plan.

Gramvousa (Imeri Gramvousa): the fort hike and the swim-after

After Balos, you sail to Imeri Gramvousa Island. The sailing segment is short—about 15 minutes—so you transition quickly from lagoon vibes to island-and-fortress vibes.

You’ll get about two hours on the island, with time for:

• Beach time and swimming
• Snorkeling
• Walking around
• And a hike up to the top for photos

The photo moment is the famous part: there’s a leisurely 20-minute hike to the Venetian fortress (a Venetian Castle built into the rock). From up there, the views are the kind that make your camera work harder than your thumbs. The fortress also adds a sense of “why this place exists” beyond the water and sun—this is a spot built for defense, and the setting explains that fast.

Back down, you get the reward: swim in crystal-clear water after hiking. That combo is what makes the island stop feel balanced instead of one-dimensional.

The return to Kissamos: covered comfort after sun and salt

After the island portion, the skipper starts the journey back to Kissamos Port, with sailing time again around 1.5 hours.

This is when you’ll appreciate the boat’s comfort details:

• you can rest or nap in the covered cabin
• hang out in the covered dining area
• and use the shower bathroom after swimming

Some guests also mentioned having fruit as the day winds down. It fits the rhythm: swim hard, hike hard, then ease back toward port without rushing.

Price and value: what $931 per group really buys you

The price is $931 per group, up to 10 people, for about 8 hours. If you fill all 10 spots, that’s roughly $93 per person—and the big value part isn’t just the boat. It’s that the day includes:

• sailing time to two major locations
• snorkeling gear
• a traditional lunch with wine/beer/soft drinks
• and a schedule that gives you actual water time rather than long travel waits

Private boat days can look expensive because you’re paying for the whole vessel, not per seat. Here, the math can work well if you’re traveling as a group of friends or family and want to keep everyone together. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, you may feel the cost more sharply because you’re still buying a full private day—unless you can pair up with others.

Also, the trip has a strong overall rating (it’s listed at 4.8 based on 41 bookings), and transport performance is rated very highly, with 88% giving a perfect score. That’s usually a good sign when you’re trusting a full-day schedule to a crew.

Who should book this private Balos and Gramvousa sailing trip

This is a great fit if you want:

• a private group day with your own pace
• time for both swimming and snorkeling
• a short hike to a Venetian fortress viewpoint
• and an onboard lunch with drinks so you’re not hunting for food on the road

It’s also a good match for small groups who enjoy sailing itself. One highlight here is learning/experiencing sailing with the sails, not just watching someone else do it from a dock.

Who might want to skip it? If mobility access is a concern, the trip is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Should you book it? My take

If your priority is maximizing beach-and-water time at Balos plus the fort views at Gramvousa, and you want to avoid the ferry crowd feeling, I’d book this. The schedule is built around doing meaningful things at each stop: swim and snorkel at Balos, then hike and swim again on Gramvousa—without turning the day into “travel all day, stand around later.”

I’d also like it for groups of 7 to 10, because the per-person value becomes more realistic, and private sailing is most fun when the boat feels full but not crowded.

One final practical call: if you get motion sickness, plan ahead for the sail. And pack a towel, because after Balos and Gramvousa, you’ll want to dry off fast.

FAQ

How long is the sailing trip?

The trip lasts about 8 hours.

What’s included in the price?

Included are the sailing cruise to Balos and Gramvousa, an experienced skipper and crew, lunch with soft drinks plus wine and beer, and snorkeling gear.

Do we need hotel pickup?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you’ll need to get to Kissamos Port by car or regional bus.

Is this a private experience?

Yes. It’s a private group experience, up to 10 people.

Is the trip suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. It’s listed as not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Where do we meet?

Meet at Mikros Naftilos Cruises in Kissamos Port. Look for the sailboat Izabela with the grey bimini next to the grey crane.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel.